Page 49 of Just One More Temptation

Nodding, Fallon forced herself to take a steadying breath. “She is. I still don’t know exactly what happened. Her son should have been with her and wasn’t. She’s been so sick lately. Now they’ll find out what’s wrong.” And hopefully put her on the road to recovery.

She made her tea the way she liked it, adding a healthy drop of milk and two sugars, then took a sip and sighed. “So good. Reminds me of the times you’d make us this same tea when Brooke or I were upset.”

Lizzie smiled. “So much teenage drama with you two.”

They both laughed.

“How’s Dad?” Fallon asked. “When I left the hospital, all I wanted to do was come see him for myself.”

“Oh, Alexander is well behaved at home. It’s the office where I worry. But he looks well. He’s still working too many hours despite Aiden and Jared being there to shoulder the workload.” She lifted her shoulder. “But he wouldn’t be the Alexander we know if he wasn’t trying to do more and act like he’s still a thirty-year-old man.” She shook her head, then lifted her teacup and took a sip.

“Anything else? You still seem so… heavy hearted.”

“Nothing I want to talk about. Brooke and I had a good heart-to-heart last night. I ended up having a drink with her before I went home. And she gave me some good advice. I just need time to figure some things out.”

Lizzie nodded. “You have a good head on your shoulders. You’ll do what’s best.”

“Well, this is a nice surprise!”

At the sound of her father’s voice, Fallon turned. He stood in the entry to the kitchen and she jumped up and hugged him tight. “Hey, Dad.”

“Hey, princess. Are you feeling better?”

She nodded, not wanting to give him anything to worry about. “I just wasn’t up to the trip yesterday. But I’m here now. How areyoufeeling?” He looked a little tired, definitely thinner, though that was what the doctor ordered. Better eating, better health.

“I’m good. Don’t worry about your old man,” he said.

Laughing, she hit his shoulder. “Don’t call my dad old!”

She spent the rest of the evening with her family, soaking up the goodness and being grateful for what she did have. A call to the hospital told her Clara was improving. And though part of her still thought pulling back from Noah was the smart thing to do, he’d been so kind, rushing out and leaving the girls with his sister to come sit with her at the hospital, she couldn’t do it. Nor did she want to.

So she texted him and let him know where she was and that she might sleep here and go straight to the hospital to visit Clara in the morning. In the afternoon, she thought maybe she’d stop by the closed gallery and do some painting. She’d been working on two special pieces there, one for each of the twins, recreating what they’d each liked about the original canvas that had been destroyed.

Fallon might be good at painting but she was the worst at protecting her heart.

Chapter Nineteen

“Clara! You’re awake,”Fallon said, as she walked into the hospital room and found her boss and mentor sitting up and alert. “I brought you your favorite blend of tea.” She held the large cannister in her hands. “I didn’t think flowers that would make your allergies go crazy were a good idea. And I’m sure they’re monitoring your food. So… tea.”

“Thank you! I was running out at home. Don’t tell Oliver but I really prefer my own blend to his special tea. But enough about that. I understand you found me? I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t come by.” She held out her hand for her to clasp.

She put the tea on the moveable tray and took the older woman’s fragile hand in hers. “Clara, I adore you. I’m just glad you’re going to be okay. Was it your heart?”

“No, actually. The tests came back the same as last time I had a checkup. My own cardiologist stopped by. But they’re rerunning blood tests. There was an abnormality or something and they want to retest to be sure. I didn’t pay much attention. I do know they’re giving me saline and flushing out my system. They want me to stay a few days but I’m just glad I’m finally feeling better.”

“Good. Make sure you follow the doctor’s orders. Has anyone contacted Oliver?” Or maybe the doorman told him about his mother’s collapse and to what hospital she’d been taken.

“No. I haven’t heard from him. When I sat up and was dizzy, I tried calling for him but he didn’t answer. And I passed out before I could get to my phone.”

“Well, you’re on the road to recovery and that’s what matters. Oliver will turn up.” He always does, she thought, but didn’t say as much out loud.

They sat and talked about the work that had been done in the gallery. “The insurance company promised to cut the check soon and as you know, I had workers in last week. You can see it today if you’d like to stop by,” Clara said.

Fallon nodded. “In the meantime, when I leave here I’ll call Sylvie and tell her we can open tomorrow!” Excitement fluttered in her belly at the thought. “I missed the place while we were gone.”

A knock sounded on the door. “Time to take your vitals, Mrs. Morganville,” a young nurse said.

“That’s my cue. You should nap when she’s finished.” Fallon bent over and kissed her cheek. “Take care and I’ll talk to you soon.”

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